"Thorin."
The dwarf king tried not to wince at the tone in his sister's voice as she walked into his office. It was nearing sunset outside, which meant that the celebrations would be starting any minute now. Thorin had been busy trying to get all his duties done so he could enjoy all the celebrations. As well as spend some more time with Bilbo. He had assumed that his sister and nephews had been keeping the hobbit company this whole time.
"Hello, Dis," he greeted, standing to kiss her cheek. "Can I help you with something?"
She raised a brow at him. "I would like an explanation of the little hobbit currently residing in your guest quarters."
"I had a feeling you would ask about that. I take it you know?"
"That he's pregnant with a dragon's child? Yes. That is what I want an explanation for." She sat in one of Thorin's chair when he indicated to it. Her tone of voice wasn't so much accusing as it was more concerned. Thorin figured she had a right to be.
"Has he told you anything else of his story?" Thorin poured them both a drink and sat in the chair beside her.
"No. We spent the afternoon listening to stories of his home and telling him about ours. He's quite adorable," she told him. "A little homesick, however." She glanced at him.
He sighed. "Nori will be leaving once the celebrations have ended to see what the way home entails for him."
"You'll let him leave?"
Thorin sipped his drink.
"Brother, I have never seen you look at anyone like you do Bilbo. Do you feel he is your One?"
Thorin sighed softly. "I know he is," he admitted softly.
"Then…"
He shook his head. "If he wishes to go home, I will not keep him."
She sighed. "Well, then, you'll just have to change his mind."
Thorin blinked at her. "Pardon?"
Dis reached over and smacked the back of his head. "Court him. That much should be obvious."
He huffed and rubbed the back of his head. "You do not know what he has been through. I would just scare him away."
She rolled her eyes at him. "You're being ridiculous. You might be the only one he trusts completely. He talks very highly of you."
"He does?" Thorin perked a little.
Dis smiled at him. "You would let him simply walk away?"
Thorin turned away from her to stare at the wall. He didn't want to, but he didn't want to pressure Bilbo after he had been through so much already.
"He is staying until he has the child, correct?" Dis asked, sipping her drink quietly. At Thorin's nod, she continued, "Then you have plenty of time." She paused. "Unless you plan on taking the child under your name as well?"
Thorin stayed quiet.
"Thorin," she sighed. "That is a tall order."
"Now you see my dilemma," he said gruffly.
She shook her head. "There is still time. Show him around the mountain. Spend time with him. Help him as much as he needs. He will open up to you. He has a caring soul to him. He won't let this stop him from following his heart later."
Thorin huffed and smiled a little at her. "You're not concerned?"
"With him as a mother, that child will grow up wonderfully. You as a father might cause me some concern," she teased good-naturedly.
Thorin laughed and shook his head. "I would be more concerned with Fili and Kili as cousins."
She paused with the glass to her lips. "Mahal help us…"
Thorin laughed loudly.
-; ;-
Thorin decided to escort Bilbo to the celebrations himself. After he had dressed in his finest robes of a deep sapphire blue with a dark gray furred cloak and his crown resting on his brow, he headed down the hall to Bilbo's rooms. He had asked Dis for some advice and, after chuckling at how lost her brother seemed in the courting department, she told him that Bilbo had spoken very fondly of his garden back at the Shire. Thorin had sent someone out to the hillsides to pick some wildflowers. They were a little weathered looking but he had been told that they would do.
He knocked on Bilbo's door and heard a muffled, "Come in!"
He opened the door and stepped into the sitting area. He could see Bilbo over by the closet, fumbling with the clasps of a new set of robes. Dis had done the best she could to find something to fit the smaller hobbit, but the clothes were still too big for him. Thorin would have to send the tailor to Bilbo soon so the other could have some proper attire.
"Would you like a hand?" he asked after watching the other struggle for another minute.
Despite knowing someone was there, Bilbo jumped. "Oh, Thorin!" He looked at him and smiled shyly. "My apologies. I thought you were Bofur." He noticed the other's attire. "You look…" Thorin almost thought he had blushed. "You look very regal."
Thorin chuckled as he stepped over to him. "It is rare I have to dress up so much." He offered the others the flowers. At Bilbo's confused look, he clarified, "Dis commented that you missed your garden. I thought having flowers in your room would suffice until we could find something else."
Bilbo smiled softly as he took the makeshift bouquet. "It would. I have missed having flowers around very much." He looked up at Thorin. "Thank you."
Thorin rubbed the back of his neck. "You're welcome. Now, about those robes?"
"Oh, yes," Bilbo stepped around him to put the flowers in an empty vase. "I can't quite figure out these closures you dwarves have. Hobbits just use buttons."
Thorin chuckled. "They are like buttons but made differently. Dwarves love to use metal in almost anything we do." He helped fix the robe in place, noting how wide it was compared to Bilbo's shoulders. "I can have the tailor use regular buttons when they come to make your clothes."
"That would be helpful, though I don't see a point in you using resources on me," Bilbo commented.
"And why is that?"
"Well…" Bilbo looked a little nervous. "I won't….fit into anything you have made for long. Just seems like a waste of materials."
Thorin had to try not to laugh. Bilbo looked quite cute with his head ducked and cheeks red. "I can assure you that it is no waste. You are my guest here and I will see to it that you are properly clothed the entire time you are here. The tailor can make other garments to accommodate you the further along you get."
He set his hands on Bilbo's shoulders. "Do not hesitate to ask for anything. You are not wasting anything of mine. I wish for you to be comfortable here."
Bilbo glanced up at him, tilting his head. "You have been so kind to me. Everyone here has. Dis mentioned that there was a reason but she didn't elaborate."
Of course she did Thorin mentally sighed. Leave it to his sister to force his hand so he couldn't leave things be.
Thorin made sure to smile. "It is nothing to worry yourself about. Everything will be explained eventually. It's nothing bad, I promise."
Bilbo sighed. He had been trying to get answers from Dis and the boys all day, but he hadn't made any progress. It would seem that Thorin would be the same.
"Very well. I'll get a straight answer from you all one of these days," he told him.
"I don't doubt that," Thorin chuckled. "Come. Let me show you how Dwarves celebrate a victory!" He offered his arm to Bilbo, highly delighted when Bilbo took it and let Thorin escort him the entire night.